Matt Damon

Birthday: 8 October 1970, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Birth Name: Matthew Paige Damon

Height: 178 cm

Matthew Paige Damon was born on October 8, 1970, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Kent Damon, a stockbroker, realtor and tax preparer, and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, an early childhood education professor at Lesley University. Matt has an older brother named Kyle who is now a sculptor. His father is of English and Scottish descent, and his mother is of Finnish and Swedish ancestry. The family lived in Newton until his parents divorced in 1973, when Damon and his brother moved with his mother to Cambridge. He grew up in a stable community, and was raised near actor Ben Affleck.Damon attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin School and he performed in a number of theater productions during his time there. He attended Harvard University as an English major. While in Harvard, he kept on skipping classes to pursue acting projects, which included the TNT original film, Rising Sun (1993), and prep-school drama, School Ties (1992). It was until his film, Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), was expected to be a big success that he decided to drop out of university completely. Arriving in Hollywood, Matt managed to get his first break with a part in the romantic comedy, Mystic Pizza (1988). However, the film did not do too well and his film career failed to take off. Not letting failure discourage him from acting, he went for another audition, and managed to get a starring role in School Ties (1992). Up next for Matt was a role as a soldier who had problems with drug-addiction in the movie, Courage Under Fire (1996). Matt had, in fact, lost forty pounds for his role which resulted in health problems. The following year, he garnered accolades for Good Will Hunting (1997), a screenplay he had originally written for an English class at Harvard University. Good Will Hunting (1997) was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, one of which, Matt won for Best Original Screenplay along with Ben Affleck. In the year 1998, Matt played the title role in Steven Spielberg's film, Saving Private Ryan (1998), which was one of the most acclaimed films in that year. Matt had the opportunity of working with Tom Hanks and Vin Diesel while filming that movie. That same year, he starred as an earnest law student and reformed poker player in Rounders (1998), starring opposite Edward Norton and John Malkovich. The next year, Matt rejoined his childhood friend, Ben Affleck and fellow comedian, Chris Rock, in the comedy Dogma (1999).Towards the end of 1999, Matt played "Tom Ripley", a working-class young man who tastes the good life and will do anything to live it. Both Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow also starred in the movie. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) earned mixed reviews from critics, but even so, Matt earned praise for his performance. Matt lent his voice to the animated movie, Titan A.E. (2000) in the year 2000, which also earned mixed reviews from the public. He also starred in two other movies, All the Pretty Horses (2000) and the golf comedy-drama, The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000), starring alongside Will Smith. In the year 2003, he signed on to star in The Informant! (2009) by Steven Soderbergh and the Farrelly Brothers' Stuck on You (2003). He also starred in Gerry (2002), a film he co-wrote with his friends, Gus Van Sant and Casey Affleck. One of Matt's most recognizable work to date is his role in the "Bourne" movie franchise. He plays an amnesiac assassin, "Jason Bourne", in The Bourne Identity (2002), The Bourne Supremacy (2004) and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). Another praised role is that as "Linus Caldwell" in the "Ocean's" movie franchise. He had the opportunity to star opposite George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and Don Cheadle in Ocean's Eleven (2001). The successful crime comedy-drama eventually had two other sequels, Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007). Among other highly acclaimed movies that Matt managed to be a part of was in Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm (2005), George Clooney's Syriana (2005), Martin Scorsese's The Departed (2006) and Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd (2006).In his personal life, Matt is now happily married to Argentine-born Luciana Barroso, whom he met in Miami, where she was working as a bartender. They married in a private civil ceremony on December 9, 2005, at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau. The couple have four daughters Alexia, Luciana's daughter from a previous relationship, as well as Isabella, Gia and Stella. Matt is a big fan of the Boston Red Sox and he tries to attend their games whenever possible. He has also formed great friendships with his Ocean's co-stars, George Clooney and Brad Pitt, whom he works on charity projects with. He and actor Ben Affleck, together with Ben's wife, Jennifer Garner, are also good family friends and can be often seen going out together with Matt's wife. Hide

[on 9/11] That day is seared into who I am more than I'd even like. It was weird because I stepped o Show more [on 9/11] That day is seared into who I am more than I'd even like. It was weird because I stepped outside my apartment, looked up and saw it happening and then went back in and just watched CNN because I just wanted information. I remember everything about that day. Hide

I'm not being a monk. I live my life in New York. I have a girlfriend [Luciana Barroso]. But it's no Show more I'm not being a monk. I live my life in New York. I have a girlfriend [Luciana Barroso]. But it's not cost-effective for paparazzi to follow us. They can get one picture of us walking down the street. Hide

[on the difference of getting in shape from the first Bourne movie to the most recent one] It's a lo Show more [on the difference of getting in shape from the first Bourne movie to the most recent one] It's a lot harder. I'm 45 years old, everything is harder. I remember during the first Bourne movie I was 29 and I boxed for six months, I was lifting weights and that's just one of the hard parts. A lot of the hard parts was the diet: I love eating and going out, drinking good wine, eating good food with my wife, so that was my sacrifice but that's not a lot to sacrifice because ultimately you get to make a movie you really want to make. Hide

Now I feel I have an unspoken deal with the paparazzi: "I won't do anything publicly interesting if Show more Now I feel I have an unspoken deal with the paparazzi: "I won't do anything publicly interesting if you agree not to follow me." Hide

There are people who appear in the magazines and I don't know who they are. I've never seen anything Show more There are people who appear in the magazines and I don't know who they are. I've never seen anything they've done and their careers are over already. They're famous for maybe 10 minutes. Real careers, I think, take a long time to unfold. Hide

[on what kind of political leadership he supports] Somebody who believes that building a strong, sol Show more [on what kind of political leadership he supports] Somebody who believes that building a strong, solid, educated middle class is ultimately the best thing for America. Someone like FDR. There's a misconception that leaders lead. They don't. They follow. Every great movement has come from the bottom up. Hide

[on living with 5 women, his wife and daughters]Yeah it's a lot of estrogen, sometimes I need to tal Show more [on living with 5 women, his wife and daughters]Yeah it's a lot of estrogen, sometimes I need to talk a walk by myself. Hide

(On being seen as a 'nice' celebrity) I don't hold myself to some higher standard of behavior. You d Show more (On being seen as a 'nice' celebrity) I don't hold myself to some higher standard of behavior. You don't have to do a lot to be seen as nice. I guess some of these people must be such rampant pricks that people are amazed when you say hello. I don't know why people like me, and I don't know if I want to know. That might be the kiss of death. I'd rather people not know a lot about me and go see the movies. Hide

Usually the scripts I get have got Brad Pitt's fingerprints on them, or Leonardo DiCaprio's. Usually the scripts I get have got Brad Pitt's fingerprints on them, or Leonardo DiCaprio's.

If your movies don't perform, they just stop calling you. If your movies don't perform, they just stop calling you.

[on the best advice, his been given] when I was younger, everybody told me not to be an actor and to Show more [on the best advice, his been given] when I was younger, everybody told me not to be an actor and to this day I say that to people who come up to me and say I'm thinking about going into acting, what'd you think? I say absolutely not. It's a terrible idea don't do it, because that's what everyone said to me and I think if you're going to make it in this business that is full of rejection and hardship you need to believe in yourself despite what everybody you love and trust tells you. Hide

[Describing what he did and how he felt after winning an Oscar for Best Screenplay for Good Will Hun Show more [Describing what he did and how he felt after winning an Oscar for Best Screenplay for Good Will Hunting] I remember going back home and I couldn't sleep so I was just sitting there looking at the award and I remember thinking very clearly and said to myself thank God I didn't fuck anyone over for this. I felt so blessed because I won it at such a young age. I couldn't imagine how it would feel to chased it my entire career and not ever getting it. Hide

I'd love to be a dad. I hope I'd be great at it. That's every man's fear, yet his most important job Show more I'd love to be a dad. I hope I'd be great at it. That's every man's fear, yet his most important job. Hide

As disturbed as I am by a lot of the things that Obama has done and is doing, I would not have prefe Show more As disturbed as I am by a lot of the things that Obama has done and is doing, I would not have preferred a Romney presidency, that's for sure. The alternative is even more frightening. Hide

[on working with Robert De Niro in The Good Shepard] I learned a lot of things I didn't know and I r Show more [on working with Robert De Niro in The Good Shepard] I learned a lot of things I didn't know and I remembered a lot of things I'd forgotten and that "disappearing" into work for ten years and working constantly... you can get into some bad habits. Hide

It's just better to be yourself than to try to be some version of what you think the other person wa Show more It's just better to be yourself than to try to be some version of what you think the other person wants. Hide

(On James Bond) He's repulsive. Bond is an imperialist, misogynist, sociopath who goes around beddin Show more (On James Bond) He's repulsive. Bond is an imperialist, misogynist, sociopath who goes around bedding women and swilling martinis and killing people. The movies have a formula, they stick to it, and it makes them a lot of money. They know what they are doing and they're going to keep doing it. Hide

[advice from his high school acting teacher Gerry Speca] five words: just do your work kid. And he r Show more [advice from his high school acting teacher Gerry Speca] five words: just do your work kid. And he repeated that so many times to me and that is what I can always retreat to, that's my touch stone, when in doubt, just focus on the work, if everything on the movie is going wrong, I'll just make sure my work is tight and done. Hide

(2012, on turning down roles) Having to say no to Avatar (2009) was tough because I particularly wan Show more (2012, on turning down roles) Having to say no to Avatar (2009) was tough because I particularly wanted to work with James Cameron, and still do, because he's fantastic. He knew he was the star of that movie and that everyone was going to go see it anyway. When he said, "Look, I'm offering it to you, but if you say no, the movie doesn't need you," I remember thinking, Oh God, not only do I have to say no because of scheduling, but he's going to make a star out of some guy who's going to start taking jobs from me later... Milk (2008) was another hard one because I was excited it would have been for Gus Van Sant, and I would have had the chance to do scenes with Sean Penn. They pushed the schedule and it ran into the slot for Green Zone (2010). Steven Soderbergh's mantra is "The movie gets the right person; the right actor gets the part," but I was like, "Shit, no. That was my part." But when I saw Milk (2008), Josh Brolin was so fucking good that I knew Soderbergh was right. Way back, Gus and I talked about my doing Brokeback Mountain (2005) with Joaquin Phoenix, but I had just done The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) and All the Pretty Horses (2000), so I said, "Gus, let's do it in a couple of years. I just did a gay movie and a cowboy movie. I can't do a gay cowboy movie now." The right actor got the part. Heath Ledger was magnificent. Hide

What I want to do is a character-driven porn movie. It's all going to be about characters, and the p Show more What I want to do is a character-driven porn movie. It's all going to be about characters, and the porn's gonna grow all out of the character's and it's going to serve as character development. Hide

[on how he would react to a pandemic in real life] I have the benefit of knowing the virologist Ian Show more [on how he would react to a pandemic in real life] I have the benefit of knowing the virologist Ian Lipkin, our technical adviser [on _Contagion_]. He's not the guy to talk to if you don't want to get paranoid. He will freak you out. But I would follow his advice during an outbreak. Hide

Ask anybody on the street which actors starred in the "Ocean's" movies, and they'll tell you it was Show more Ask anybody on the street which actors starred in the "Ocean's" movies, and they'll tell you it was George [Clooney] and Brad [Pitt]. I'm 'support' in "Ocean's". As I was in Saving Private Ryan (1998) - Tom [Hanks] carried that movie. You could accuse me of piggybacking on other people's brilliance more than anything. Hide

I've come to believe that the best way, if we really wanted to try to give out awards, would be to w Show more I've come to believe that the best way, if we really wanted to try to give out awards, would be to wait at least ten years. Hide

(Talking about working with Robert De Niro in The Good Shepherd (2006)): I think I can say I'm a bet Show more (Talking about working with Robert De Niro in The Good Shepherd (2006)): I think I can say I'm a better actor after having worked with Robert De Niro. Hide

(On his favorite roles) Good Will Hunting (1997) is so close to my heart because my best friend [Ben Show more (On his favorite roles) Good Will Hunting (1997) is so close to my heart because my best friend [Ben Affleck] and I invented him, he's from Boston, and it was what we knew. The stakes were pretty high with "Good Will Hunting" and it worked out as best as it can in this business - people saw the movie, it got good reviews, I was happy with the finished product, and they gave us an Oscar. I am also pretty fond of "Tom Ripley" - playing smart and sinister is just so much fun. I wasn't that fond of his choice of swim trunks, though, so a few points away for that. And "John Grady Cole" in All the Pretty Horses (2000) was good, too. The integrity of that character is admirable. Unfortunately, I am the only one who saw that movie, so no one will get that reference. Hide

(2012) I learned that I am afraid of heights. When I was doing Syriana, they arranged for my wife, L Show more (2012) I learned that I am afraid of heights. When I was doing Syriana, they arranged for my wife, Lucy, and me to go up to watch the sunset over the Arabian Peninsula from the top of that seven-star Dubai hotel that's shaped like a sail, the Burj Al Arab. So we go to the very top-60 stories or something-we're given champagne, and we go, "Oh my God, this is great." But as I started to walk toward the edge, my legs locked up. I was absolutely frozen. I completely jumped my neocortex and went straight to this primal, full lizard-brain fear state. Lucy was walking all around the edge, while I was about to collapse from fear. She thought it was hysterical. Hide

I think the values that I have are consistent with the values I was raised with. I vote against my o Show more I think the values that I have are consistent with the values I was raised with. I vote against my own self-interests constantly. I campaign against my own self-interests. If you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you're probably more likely to be the Koch brothers and think that you shouldn't pay taxes on things. I think it's just a question of where you come from. Hide

I'm always cautious about overstepping any boundaries. At the end of the day, it's a director's medi Show more I'm always cautious about overstepping any boundaries. At the end of the day, it's a director's medium, and if they don't want to hear from me I just step back. Hide

[Why he came back to do another Bourne film] I said I wouldn't do it without Paul Greengrass and it Show more [Why he came back to do another Bourne film] I said I wouldn't do it without Paul Greengrass and it was always we'd talk about, we' re always looking for projects for us to do together and after a while we felt like "we're kind of like dicks if we don't do another Bourne film. So when we knew we wanted to it became a question of what would the movie be? And what's the story?, How would the characters interact? so it took a few more years to figure it out. Hide

(2012) When I turned 40 I had my whole family and some friends together. I realized I had to make a Show more (2012) When I turned 40 I had my whole family and some friends together. I realized I had to make a toast and hadn't thought of anything to say. I stood up, and what came to me seemed incredibly true in the moment and even more so as time has gone by. I said, "I think I might actually be the luckiest guy on earth. I really might be him." And nobody in the room reflexively said, "Bullshit," because I am so lucky to have Lucy, my kids, my friends and this job. It's been an unbelievable life. So I'm just looking for health and to stay in this groove as long as I can. Hide

The ingredients of my ideal taco, oh my god. Fantastic question. My ideal taco is actually the taco Show more The ingredients of my ideal taco, oh my god. Fantastic question. My ideal taco is actually the taco I'm not supposed to have which is the taco we have on taco night at my house. It's the crunchy corn shell with the good meat, just ground beef in there. It's all about the layering. The meats gotta be hot, and the cheese goes on first so that it melts. And then you're gonna get in there with a little bit of tomato and lettuce but not too much cause it's not a salad, it's a taco, and then you're gonna throw some avocado on top and some sour cream and then a bunch of cholula. I don't know if you know what cholula hot sauce is but it's the best. Throw a bunch of cholula on there, maybe squeeze some lime on top, and go to town. Hide

[on the possibility of a fourth Jason Bourne movie] I don't know, you know. I think it will be a pre Show more [on the possibility of a fourth Jason Bourne movie] I don't know, you know. I think it will be a prequel of some kind with another actor and another director before we (himself and director Paul Greengrass) do another one. I think we are probably five years away from another one. We gotta get a script. Hide

(On celebrity campaigns against such things as childhood poverty and disease) Look, I would much rat Show more (On celebrity campaigns against such things as childhood poverty and disease) Look, I would much rather people were listening to politicians about this than actors. But the politicians aren't talking about this, you know. Hide

The Bond character will always be anchored in the 1960s and in the values of the 1960s. It's so anac Show more The Bond character will always be anchored in the 1960s and in the values of the 1960s. It's so anachronistic when you put it in the world we live in today that Mike Myers made a fortune with his own spy franchise [Austin Powers] - it makes for great comedy. Bond is an imperialist and a misogynist who kills people and laughs about it, and drinks martinis and cracks jokes. Bourne is a serial monogamist whose girlfriend is dead and he does nothing but think about her. He doesn't have the support of gadgets, and he feels guilty for what he's done. Hide

[on the difference between Jason Bourne and James Bond] He's not like Bond, who goes on individual m Show more [on the difference between Jason Bourne and James Bond] He's not like Bond, who goes on individual missions. I mean, you could make Bond movies forever, because you'd start each film at the beginning of a new mission. But Bourne isn't built that way, unfortunately. Hide

I'd had people say, "You'll enjoy being famous for a week, and you'll never enjoy it again". But I d Show more I'd had people say, "You'll enjoy being famous for a week, and you'll never enjoy it again". But I don't think I had that week. I may have been working and missed that moment. Hide

[5 ways he is not Jason Bourne] First all the languages he speaks, they're all languages that I wish Show more [5 ways he is not Jason Bourne] First all the languages he speaks, they're all languages that I wish I spoke, the way he fights, I certainly can't fight like that, his a lot more tortured than I am, I've got a great wife, and he definitely doesn't have one, and I've got kids. Hide

I'm becoming far more interested in just functionality and making sure my body is as strong as it ca Show more I'm becoming far more interested in just functionality and making sure my body is as strong as it can be so I can swing my kids around and not worry about aches and pains. Hide

Some people get into this business and they're so afraid to lose anything. They try to protect their Show more Some people get into this business and they're so afraid to lose anything. They try to protect their position like clinging to a beachhead. These actors end up making really safe choices. I never wanted to go that route. If I go down, I'm going down swinging. I know that's the way Heath Ledger feels and Ben Affleck feels the same way, too. We want to take the big swings. Hide

All you have in the end is to look back and like the choices you've made. All you have in the end is to look back and like the choices you've made.

I found myself getting more publicly shy when the gala events and big crowds started. Some people em Show more I found myself getting more publicly shy when the gala events and big crowds started. Some people embrace it. To me, it's not worth enough to risk my private life being public. Hide

[on The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)] We're all signed on in principle, in the sense that we've all agree Show more [on The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)] We're all signed on in principle, in the sense that we've all agreed that we want to do it, but we're not going to do it unless we have a great script. It's ours to lose at the minute and, if we do make a third one, we want to make it as good as the first two. And if we can't do that, then we're going to have to let it drop. Hide

Working with Steven [Soderbergh] is very different from working with anybody else. He takes the hocu Show more Working with Steven [Soderbergh] is very different from working with anybody else. He takes the hocus-pocus out of making movies, and I like that. Hide

I want to direct someday and I can't really pass up the chance to work with the people I'm getting t Show more I want to direct someday and I can't really pass up the chance to work with the people I'm getting to work with. I've worked with Paul Greengrass three times now, and Clint Eastwood twice, and Steven Soderbergh five or six times, and the Coen Brothers this month. As long as that keeps happening, I can't see myself taking time off, unless the work dried up. Hide

You've given an aging suburban dad the ego-boost of a lifetime. (On being named People magazine's Se Show more You've given an aging suburban dad the ego-boost of a lifetime. (On being named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive 2007) Hide

(2012) One of the scariest things I've ever had to do was the underwater scene in the second Bourne Show more (2012) One of the scariest things I've ever had to do was the underwater scene in the second Bourne movie, where the car goes into the river and I've lost the love of my life. I didn't want to do that at all. So I wouldn't be constantly aware of how scared I am of drowning, I had to go to a pool with this great stunt guy and dive master a couple of times a week for a month or so to train me to relax underwater without an oxygen mask and with a blindfold and, later, to do simple tasks underwater like tying a shoe... After we shot for one day, that night I woke up probably four times gasping for breath, thinking I was drowning. It was terrible. When you make movies, you end up being trained to do really weird things you don't do anywhere else. Hide

[How he felt after winning his first Oscar]I remember going back home and I couldn't sleep so I was Show more [How he felt after winning his first Oscar]I remember going back home and I couldn't sleep so I was just sitting there looking at the award and I remember thinking very clearly and said to myself thank God I didn't fuck anyone over for this. Hide

[in defence of friend Ben Affleck, being criticized for agreeing to controversial casting].You know, Show more [in defence of friend Ben Affleck, being criticized for agreeing to controversial casting].You know, he's not playing King Lear. It's Batman! Hide

If anybody wanted to photograph my life, they'd get bored in a day. "Here's Matt at home learning hi Show more If anybody wanted to photograph my life, they'd get bored in a day. "Here's Matt at home learning his lines. Here's Matt researching in aisle six of his local library". A few hours of that and they'd go home. Hide

Bond is part of the system. He's an imperialist and a misogynist, and he laughs at killing people, a Show more Bond is part of the system. He's an imperialist and a misogynist, and he laughs at killing people, and he sits there slugging martinis. It'll never be the same thing as this, because Bourne is a guy who is against the establishment, who is paranoid and on the run. I just think fundamentally they're just very different things. Hide

Does [Sarah Palin] really believe that dinosaurs were here four thousand years ago? I need to know t Show more Does [Sarah Palin] really believe that dinosaurs were here four thousand years ago? I need to know that. Because she's going to have the nuclear codes. Hide

You do the actuary tables, there's a one out of three chance, if not more, that McCain doesn't survi Show more You do the actuary tables, there's a one out of three chance, if not more, that McCain doesn't survive his first term, and it'll be President Palin. It's like a really bad Disney movie, 'The Hockey Mom.' Oh, I'm just a hockey mom from Alaska, and she's president. She's facing down Vladimir Putin and using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It's absurd. Hide

[on the Oscars] They should give them out 10 years later, like the way they do the Hall of Fame in b Show more [on the Oscars] They should give them out 10 years later, like the way they do the Hall of Fame in baseball. They do it in five years, but if you did 10 years later, if this year (2010), we were voting on what was the best picture of 2000, I think it would be much more honest. It's like, when you pick up great old movies and you go, why the hell didn't Brando win the Oscar for this one? Who won that year? Whatever the sizzle was about that year. 50 years later you're looking at a movie and going, this is a historic cinematic performance. Hide

[on The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)] If you have any ideas for a script, please, call Universal! We've g Show more [on The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)] If you have any ideas for a script, please, call Universal! We've gone so far from the book. [Robert Ludlum] wrote it as a trilogy and we've really kind of ignored that plot because it's very Cold War. And so, in the updating process, we kind of threw out most of what he had so we're kind of on our own to find a third one. "Bourne Ultimatum" is the third one and I feel like I've given ultimatums in both the first two! Hide

Matt Damon's FILMOGRAPHY - Page 10

All as Actor (237) as Creator (3)

Green Zone

The 45th Annual Kennedy Center Honors

The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards 2010